PREMED- BSMD or GWU

College Search & Selection
1

HI guys I am really between 2 schools right now and need some help. Any opinions are welcome. I am 70% committed to medicine

  1. GWU- 20,000 per year I love the city and there are a lot of opportunities for research/ involvement here. The classes maybe harder than at the state school but I would just work harder. My options would be wide open in terms of major as I could easily change to economics or IR without transferring. I didnt get into the BSMD program but they do have another early linkage program through their medical school that I can apply to at the end of my sophomore year, but it is also very competitive. Money isnt the biggest issue but I dont want to waste it.
  2. Drexel BSMD with local state school - Undergrad Full Ride After 4 years at a local state school I would go into Drexel Medical assuming I get a particular MCAT and GPA. The state school is literally 5 mins from my house and very boring. I wouldn't be challenged and the environment is crappy. I wouldnt have many research opportunities at all. I could transfer, apply to PSU Medical, graduate early and do a masters, but I cant apply to another medical school. I know that getting into medical school is very hard and I do want to be a doctor but I dont want to limit myself to a particular medical school when I may be able to get into a better one and on the other hand I dont want to give up a medical school spot that I would have to do a post bac or NIH research in the future just to get in to a medical school that maybe on Drexel's level anyways. I have heard that it is very difficult to get into top medical programs out of college anyway so this may be worth it in that sense. I want to go into medicine early but I want to enjoy each step/ be challenged. S0 i need to find a balance.

A lot of people telling me that I am mad not to do number 2 but I really dislike drexel medical and the state school still my goal right now is to be a doctor unless that changes.

Thanks for reading that verbal diarrhea

2

Why do you dislike Drexel SOM???

3

Its small comparatively speaking. It is relatively new / not highly respected and I don’t like the area (east falls/ outside of philly). I would rather go to many other medical schools, but thats if I can get in. I dont want to sell myself short but realistically this is a great opportunity, if it was only 4 years of a miserable place I could make the best of it but 8 years is a long time. I could always get into a better residency program but thats a long ways away. Drexel matches well enough too.

4

where can you transfer to? Not aware you could transfer without forgoing your spot…

Assuming you would have to stay at the local university for all 4 years, it’s clear that you can’t see yourself having a fulfilling experience and this, imo, would not be worth the spot at DCOM (you are probably not even saving any time). You are not even committed to medicine which makes this decision even easier - go to GWU.